Let’s be honest for a minute. As much as we love it, black has never really been the Wagoneer’s color. Jeep’s original luxury SUV built its whole reputation on warmth, with sunbaked earth tones wrapped around that famous woodgrain. And most restomod shops follow that original formula. Vigilante 4×4, the Texas Hill Country outfit that’s been dropping HEMIs into vintage SJ Jeeps since 2017, decided to throw out the playbook. Its latest build is the 1979 Jeep Wagoneer “The Blacked-Out.”
Charring the Sacred Woodgrain
Starting with a clean Texas donor body, Vigilante laid down deep black paint, treated the brightwork in matte black, and smoked out the glass.
The woodgrain is where they got clever with the build. Rather than completely removing the Wagoneer’s defining feature (a fireable offense in some circles), the shop reworked the panels in grey and black tones inspired by Yakisugi (the centuries-old Japanese practice of preserving cedar by charring it).
Whiskey Where It Counts
Pop open one of the doors and the mood flips completely. Whiskey-toned leather and the Wagoneer’s signature corduroy warm up the cabin nicely.
And in typical Vigilante fashion, the tech hides in plain sight. The window cranks are fakes operating electric windows, while the vintage-faced gauges feed modern data behind period glass.
Triple the Muscle, None of the Wheeze
In place of the smog-strangled AMC V8 sits a naturally aspirated 6.4-liter Mopar 392 HEMI making 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque.
Backing it up is a 4-speed automatic, an Atlas-II transfer case, and stout Currie-built Dana 44 and Dana 60 axles. Eibach coils and adjustable Fox Racing 2.0 shocks replace the old leaf springs, and 14″ Baer 6-piston brakes handle the stopping.
Spec Sheet
Model: 1979 Jeep Wagoneer “The Blacked-Out” by Vigilante 4×4
Engine: Mopar 392 HEMI 6.4L naturally aspirated V8
Power: 485 HP & 475 lb-ft of torque
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Drivetrain: 4WD with Atlas-II transfer case
Axles: Currie Dana 44 (front) & Dana 60 (rear)
Suspension: Eibach coils with adjustable Fox Racing 2.0 shocks
Brakes: Baer 6-piston calipers with 14″ discs
Starting Price: $295,000 (commission)
Pricing & Availability
Bad news first: this particular Wagoneer has already found a home. The good news is that Vigilante will happily build you a twin to your exact drivetrain and spec, with commissions starting at $295,000. Head over to Vigilante 4×4’s website to get the ball rolling.
Recap
1979 Vigilante Jeep Wagoneer “The Blacked-Out”
Vigilante flips the Wagoneer formula with a murdered-out 1979 build packing charred-wood-style paneling, a whiskey leather cabin, and a 485-hp HEMI.
